Finding time for quality time with your kids.

Life is crazy. Most of the day is a blur.

The hustle, bustle, dizziness and chaos of life as a single mom can be nauseating. How do you slow everything down and find time for a moment of quality time with your kids? It’s easier said than done, that’s for sure. But even though we are home with them all day every day it still feels like we never actually spend time with them. It only always just constantly feels like screaming “Get that out of your nose!” “Stop jumping on the couch!” “If I have to tell you to pick up your socks on more time…!”  “Eat your dinner or starve!” & “Be quiet!!!!” but no actual time spent with your children. Well, at least that’s how it is at my house. We rarely get a moment to giggle, play, cuddle or do an activity….I’m so busy, stressed and tired all the time and being the only parent it’s tough to even find time for a shower or a real meal. The importance of spending quality time with your kids is off the charts, it’s crucial and a must. But how? And when? UGG. So I’ve sat myself down and come up with this list of ideas to squeeze in a little mommy & me time for us single moms who are this close (imagine my thumb and index finger held almost touching) to losing our shiz.

Finding time for quality time with your kids: 

#1: Bathtime

Bathtime is a great time for getting in a little quality time. While they sit and soak in the tub we can take the opportunity to talk to them, ask them questions or even play a game or sing a song together. Blow some soap bubbles, smile and enjoy a few solid minutes of time together before you have to wash them up and put them into bed. 

#2: Bedtime

Then next comes bedtime. When we get them all tucked in, read a story and say our goodnights it’s a perfect time to squeeze in an extra moment of quality time. Telling them things you forgot to tell them during the day or tell them something to look forward to doing the next day, tell them a story about something they did as a baby, or even just read another story and ask them questions about it to get a conversation going and maybe teach them something new. It’s the time to unwind, settle down and just relax with your kids, and have a little bit of calm one on one time. 

Image via Pinterest

#3: Sundays

I don’t know about you, but in our house Sunday’s are the days that we do absolutely nothing. We just sit on the couch and watch movies and chill at home and relax from a week of insanity and prepare for another. Sunday’s are perfect for just relaxing together, cuddling on the couch, coloring together, or maybe baking some cookies. Just take the day off from anything else you have going on and make it a family day. 

#4: First thing in the morning

For you moms who are conscious in the morning (I’m not one of them, I work night’s), mornings are a great time to talk about the plans for the day, any chores that need doing and ask them what they want to do before the day is done. Have a little time to talk together during breakfast and before the day starts really going. I’m so jealous (I think) of you mom’s who see the morning sunlight and start your days in the daytime…it must be magical….right? 

#5: Mid-afternoon 15-minute breaks

If we can take a few moments each afternoon to just pause, and take a breather I think it would keep both kids and parents sane. So if we can stop ourselves to step away from work and chores to go do a quick 15-minuete activity with our kids it would really refresh our minds and spirits. So if we’re not out on a  grocery run or on the soccer field, take a time-out from long days at home to just have a play time break. 

 

Do any of these ideas seem do-able for you? I hope you can try some of these to achieve some extra quality time with your kids every day and I promise everyone will benefit. When the days are long, hard and busy it’s so easy to loose track of time and allow all the stress to keep us from giving the time with us that our kids need. Battle on moms, fight the good fight and stay the course. Now go spend time with those snotty little buggers!

Love, your girl, -Jess XO

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